Our first connection was made when Sara Sant’Ambrogio and Erika Nickrenz were just 12 years old. Sara’s father, John Sant’Ambro-gio, then principal ‘cellist of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, was being recorded by Erika’s mother, Grammy Award winning record producer Joanna Nickrenz. This working relationship led to Erika joining Sara at her family’s music camp in the Berkshire Mountains, Red Fox, where Erika studied piano with Sara's grandmother, Isabelle Sant’Ambrogio, a renowned pianist and pedagogue.

Our musical connection continued when, a few years later, Sara decided to strike out on her own and attend renowned music camp Meadowmount. There she met, played and became fast friends with violinist Sara Parkins, After playing together that summer, Sara Cello was invited to finish High School at The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and Sara Violin was accepted to attend Juilliard Pre-College where she met and started playing with Erika. Later, Sara Violin decided to join Sara Cello at Curtis where they happily renewed their personal and musical friendship. After a year as roommates and musical collaborators, Sara Cello was invited to attend Juilliard where she resumed playing with Erika.

A few years later, Sara Violin and Erika reunited at the Tanglewood Music Festival. That same year the Eroica Trio was formed at the Juilliard School. This intricate web of early connections helped forge a lifelong bond between us -